The World Bank in a joint management with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) today launched the “lighting Africa” initiative.

This initiative is to provide modern and affordable non-fossil lighting fuel products to the 250 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa who spend about $17 billion for fuel in their kerosene lamps.

The World Bank Energy Sector Manager for Africa, Mr. S. Vijay Iyer, who launched the initiative, said that they have mobilized about $2 million to support the project. He said that there is only 20,000 capacity of power in Sub-Saharan Africa and “modern lighting will mean improved air quality and safety for millions of people in Africa. This will directly contribute to the Millennium Development Goals”.

He outlined the strategic framework, containing five approaches for the project. They are the expansion of electricity grids to areas without electricity, large electricity generation for regional integration, provision of energy to services like hospitals, schools etc. and provision of affordable lighting and fuels for households waiting for electricity access by the year 2030.

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